("The Study of Truth")copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zVwr0o4aJ
It was cold but the cold was refreshing to Conner's inflamed skin. It was always like this when he made a crossover while in a heavily glamoured human form. copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DgfEdgJo4
He was not actually human. But for the sake of the argument, he was now. Plus, Garrett, his elder brother, was always saying things like 'immersion fosters the ability to live like one you were immersed around' or something like that.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFP1jEUp8u
Garrett always said things like that. Evangeline would comment (well, if she was currently alive, anyway) something along the lines of 'dammit, pay attention, Conner!'.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡfe4bKvb8Am
Someone was almost always chiding him for his severely limited attention span.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFZ9UEnanL
Let's just say that he made a toddler human with severe ADHD look focused.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVr3XKHSaQ
Conner knew why they did it though. He didn't necessarily like it, but he could understand why it was necessary. It was because they wanted him to actually notice his surroundings and discreetly make his way through them.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡmp4rAPXMYx
It helped when he was in his current form, his currently annoyingly human form. He liked how it was easier to enjoy the present and the world around him, but alas... he did not like how weak it made him, or how boring he thought it made him.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Rd807Moia
But whatever. It's not like he wasn't the one to decide to live as mortal for a while.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9x5AB3ljVw
Garrett had been the one to suggest it, but ultimately it had been Conner's decision.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iVeKw4Hj2
But, anyway, currently he had made his way into an office.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsTsBUAniT
By the mortals dressed around him, he could guess that it was sometime in the late nineteen thirties or early nineteen forties. A woman had greeted him at the main desk and gave him papers to sign.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsqD31HolC
He didn't have an identity here, nor any birth records that gave him one. All he had was his name, which had started out completely different and in his native tongue, but which he had changed some time ago to make it easier for mortals to pronounce.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuVQJFnNnH
Barely any of his siblings had kept their original names.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡQC9K5KFG8Y
The woman had smiled brightly at him and had seemed somewhat concerned with how red his skin looked at the moment. He had smiled back and made an excuse about a sunburn or something like that. She had nodded and accepted his excuse- but then again, it was really the only reasonable thing he could respond with.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGq0kt11Sm
' "Just sign these papers and we'll call you up when they're ready for you!" she smiled and he had nodded and taken a seat in the crowded waiting room.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡENRzDBe1pB
No one had even blinked at him when he sat down.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfeS0kDF0L
His glamour must be good, he concluded. That was good, since he had never held a glamour this long before. It had been almost a century since he donned it.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzr3zMxBNp
The linoleum tiles sparkled beneath his booted feet. A shadowy reflection showed a man of reasonable height with a average body type.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrdQ1RrgSQ
He was dressed strangely for this time, but none of the people around him took notice, too immersed with anxiety, nerves, or their own daydreams. Conner was dressed in a worn pair of jeans and a plain cotton t-shirt, not many people were dressed like he was in the office, with maybe one other man wearing denim.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡRB66u6q7Lq
Most of the people around him were men, maybe two women in the waiting room beside the woman who had greeted him at the front desk. They were dressed smartly, plain clothes for the most part that had probably at least once been mended- but that was probably just a part of the times.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡSp0ktA60cU
He filled out the paperwork quickly, reading the terms and answering the questionnaire as honestly as he could. Place of residence? He answered vaguely, rattling off one of his cousins houses that she kept in the area. Age? He figured he looked to be about twenty two or three. Date of Birth? He laughed.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡqamD1nutDn
He was old-older than most worlds anyway and when you were that old, let's just say you didn't celebrate all your birthdays.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvZqCtx2Aj
He had been born in spring he thought. He rattled off the date of equinox, March twentieth give or take a day.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡttIuOb4Vcg
A few minutes later his name was called and he handed the clipboard back to the woman at the front and she guided him into another room, a doctor's office where he would get a 'check-up'. Conner snickered to himself while he waited again. The odds he would be too 'sick' to sign up would be very low to say the least.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCrcgszLWd
He couldn't even remember the last time he got sick.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gJ7GlBeob
After making so many crossovers into so many different worlds and time periods he had managed to develop an immunity to almost everything.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSEfntrroD
Including most forms of plague. Looking at you, Black Death!copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdgapxDZiz
The only illnesses he could actually pick up were witch-born ones, but those were few and far between, what with the tendencies to lead to witch hunts. Nasty little things those plagues were.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrPWzwiaLG
But he hadn't managed to catch one of those in at least a thousand or so years.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡliz0yWuZoS
The door to the room slid open and a man in a white lab coat made his way in.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡD75UhvrVvJ
He was human (not that it was surprising) and was somewhere in his early thirties. His hair was light brown and cut short while his eyes were a dark mossy green.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIblEKSWUD
Dr. Thomas Greene his nametag read.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgVcht8Ltx
Dr. Greene was pale, like he had never visited, certainly not lived, near the equator. He kept clicking his pen, about eleven times per minute. He made 'mhmm' sounds as he read over Conner's papers, flipping through them several times before he even looked directly up at Conner.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7EJ1WfsRK
He frowned when he looked at him, his brows furrowing.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmtoI88A53
"You're Conner Hadrian Durard? Do you know Sara Durard, then? She came in earlier today with her son."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIj8VBC4n6
Conner nodded, "She's a cousin."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1dfKfb0I3
Who he hadn't seen or talked to for at least sixty years, but that was normal.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUqej8mrIs
Dr. Greene nodded and went back to skimming the papers.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVaO46qGaN
A couple minutes later he looked up and scanned him again and nodded.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLO01zfczX
"Alright, can you list any previous illnesses?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡglSGzbOWDw
Fuck.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8rzWvFncQ
He hadn't the faintest clue what illnesses were a thing in this world.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZBZZDzfP9
"The flu?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5u6L4hA0V
"Which flu?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6p3yZ03Enf
"Uh, this year's flu?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyf6yfJ7uz
Dr. Greene narrowed his eyes on Conner like Evangeline did when she caught him not paying attention. For a second Conner thought that he would call him on his clear lie, maybe even confess that he knew that Conner was immortal. He kinda wished the doctor would, it would be a hell of alot easier if he did.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIFLOrP61Q
The doctor looked back down and went back to making 'mhmm' sounds.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18g5Gf5JUt
When all was said and done, he ended up doing a physical on Conner, unnerving the immortal with his constant poking and prodding. Within twenty minutes they were done and the doctor had given his stamp of approval and pushed him further along the line to recruitment which seeing as how the country was at war (or so he had been told after one awkward conversation later) he had been accepted quickly and quietly.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡZp1fwAugIZ
In his defence, not every world had been subject to World War Two, just most of them.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZHvKwXACZ
See, there were certain events that were almost always written deeply into the fabric of existence, and World War Two was one of them along with the Hundred Years War or the French Revolution or for some odd reason, the Great Emu War.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡqE7GJOVPyQ
(He had never managed to figure the latter out, though.)copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡixfkMLUh1C
But back to the subject, events like those were repeated countlessly in countless worlds, leading most of the humanities across existence to a remarkably similar path. Of course, some of the players changed depending on how prior events had played out.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSCXnmtlX6
For example if Napoleon had actually managed to conquer Russia, or later, if Hitler had managed to conquer the Soviet Union or if the Soviet Union had replaced Germany in WW2 on the Axis team. Changes like those had of way of sending out repercussions.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡknKs4ug0jO
And he had no idea just where he had landed on the 'Oh shit what's happening? Where am I?' meter. Probably high up, he supposed.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBm5V9RQqT
He ghosted through the rest of the line, lost in thought and absently muttering to himself (garnering quite a few strange looks when people did notice him if at all). He was given a uniform that would fit him while he was under a glamour (but would certainly not when he went without it). He ended up back in a line for... hell, something.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHL5E9r8vo
A man was standing in front of him. He was around six feet two inches tall and smelled distinctly human. His auburn brown hair was cut close to his head on the sides but the top fell in a wave from his side part. He was stiff and his breathing was harsh, nervous.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQMZiRtzRM
"Something troubling you?" Conner spoke up and the man turned around slightly to lean against the wall as he made eye contact with the still red immortal.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHnLNjUF9l
The human was quite attractive, nowhere near Conner's kind and their kind of beauty, but Conner could see how the man would attract others of his kind. His eyes were odd, heterochromatic with his right eye being a dark chocolate brown and his left being a pacific blue. He was frowning slightly but relaxed as he let out a slight chuckle.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡzC2kHHu9PZ
"The country is at war, I believe I have reason to be troubled."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4Pl38cwH3
Conner laughed and the man quirked a brow, "Yes, but that's not what's bothering you."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5LGRzZMf9
The man looked surprised, "You're American? What are you doing signing up in England?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OLa9tSDDH
Conner smiled, "Would you believe I took a wrong turn and signed up for the hell of it?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbLrwPAJlh
The man scanned him and looked into his eyes silently for a moment, "Looking at you, yeah, I'd believe it."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDnzke8k0o
"You don't sound English either," Conner pointed out and the man smiled lightly.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8cfjlIbZl
"Ex-pat. Moved here with my parents when I was twelve. Been here for about eleven years now. How's it going stateside?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBxF33uDNP
Conner let out a nervous bleat, "Hell if I know. What year is this?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAtj9Nxi7y
The man laughed like he thought it was a good joke. "It's 1939. What'd you do? Take a nasty hit to the head? Or maybe... stay out in the sun too long? Though I must confess, I've never seen a sunburn that bad, especially not in England."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBHTQ1fyce
Conner chuckled, "Well my head does hurt and so does my skin, so I guess either/and."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5QrLUvfyi
The line moved up and the man slid along the wall a few feet. Conner followed.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tTyM2mklu
"I'm Conner." Conner held out his hand and the man took it to shake.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡT15BUVCauP
"Adam. You have quite the grip." Conner relaxed his hand and released him, a slight blush lighting up his cheeks, lighting up his inflamed skin once more.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡopVeQG8mVG
Adam laughed and Conner blushed a deeper red, "Sorry."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0ayyXBUiW
Adam smiled, "Nothing to apologize for, just didn't expect it."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡobXtNSpp2U
Conner relaxed and they made light talk as they slid through the line and the following checkpoint.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrjaG9QOwL
They took their papers and headed back into the waiting room where an older man met them.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbMGJkDkfW
"Adam, you know your mother is going to be furious with you, right?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD8e7V7xla
Adam nodded at the greying man, "Yes, Uncle. But she has her hands full with the twins so I think I'm safe for the time being."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡrABKKhUB6q
The man trailed light brown eyes over Conner, "Who is this?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCB9ikuWFJ
Conner held his hand out, "Conner Durard, pleasure to meet you..."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWn1avXi2i
The man nodded but didn't take his hand, "Charles Brandt, I'm Adam's uncle."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡstT3eDl8fs
Conner nodded and Adam grinned, "Feel like a drink, either of you?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡyC49Mnugk9
Charles shook his head and Conner checked his wallet, which was not a wallet but a leather drawstring coin purse that he had been using for three centuries. Charles looked at him oddly then at his nephew and shook his head and silently left the two of them.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡZd6mfgSczU
Conner looked up and Adam laughed, "You're a little odd but I like you. Come on, I'll pay."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1on5C1qKg
Conner grinned, "Fine with me, I'm pretty sure all that I have is foreign currency anyway."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjTXsFkXVF
Specifically, Blackslate coins that were only used among the Allied Family. He'd have to make a trip to a market hole. The tricky part would be locating the entrance. Hopefully there was one nearby, he'd have to ask Sara.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6USdh7t9j2
"So what do you do for work?" Adam asked as they made their way down streets to the nearest bar.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4O4sc95dAP
"I'm nomadic, I've picked up skills to do just about anything, but none of it certified. All off the books sort of stuff." Conner revealed and Adam narrowed his eyes on him with a slight grin.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡut8nrB2MyY
"So I take it you travel a lot?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFTkSbsmkM
"Yup. It's pretty much all I do."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡppAtRMDW0d
Adam chuckled, "You're meant for the military then. That was all my father could talk about when he came home from the last war. Much to my mother's discontent."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuHVR8xUU5
Conner laughed and they were silent as they walked at an amiable pace to the pub Adam suggested.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlLLGDW80h
They stopped about ten minutes later at a homey looking building that seemed left over from the sixteenth century. How it had managed to survive time, Conner had no clue. Buildings weren't exactly built to last then. A sign hung apathetically from a post over the door.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpHvSziwwi
The Bar of Bathcopyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiMqeEzLzt
Was that a play on Chaucer? He was grateful it wasn't Shakespeare at least.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsPCewfbEf
It was quiet and the atmosphere was cozy as they walked inside, pleasant smells trailing in from the back where the kitchens resided. Conner's nose itched as a sudden sharp scent bit at him annoyingly. The barman looked up and narrowed his eyes on the glamoured immortal.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzFa4yJn4f
"Is that you, Conner? You wouldn't happen to be travelling with Evangeline would you? I still owe her eight goats and I'd rather not have to attempt to convert that shit and account for inflation."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNyseM7OxG
Conner laughed at the expression on Adam's face.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡho970nDgyi
"Evangeline isn't with me, no. I haven't see your ugly mug in... wow it's been a long time, Xander."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1RbcWJVkO
The glamoured demon smirked then glanced at Adam.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZBJsQwzE3
"Adam! How rude of me, what'll you have?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWsp4sMIJl
"Whatever's potent enough to help me make sense of this."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fnSrzPav9
Xander narrowed his eyes on Conner and slipped into infliniterian, the universal tongue of the homelands. The guttural somewhat lilting language drew wide eyes from Adam, oblivious to the actual meaning.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡYH9AqBrWb6
"Did you tell him about us? Your sister will not be happy with you."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0r3sR8VEQE
Conner shook his head and replied back in english.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRTnKlXAvt
"No."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuaU5AvxxH
Xander nodded and handed Adam a strange concoction which the human took like a shot, grimacing at the taste.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡEx8IZZQVDH
Conner sat down beside Adam at the bar. He looked at Xander, seeing through his light glamour.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDzt1jOYUk
There were a few types of glamour, the low energy overlay which Xander wore, a glamour that dulled down one's true image and masked it with another more mundane one, and Conner's, which actually transformed the bearer in some sense, dulling down natural instincts and abilities. The latter was more difficult to maintain, but could easily go unnoticed even by the most clear sighted of mortals.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEPByVc4tJ
Xander had probably scared some poor mortals shitless.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7gUPgTGbx
Conner looked at Adam, "What do you see when you look at Xander?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLbWfcg4ba
Xander frowned at the other immortal.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCPeenaqsD
Adam, feeling the effects of the miscellaneous cocktail, blinked hazily for a moment then looked at Xander.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡadLq8BH2hT
He blushed, "Uh..."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEFLAUXQZ8
Xander's frown deepened at Conner then looked at Adam with a sigh.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nLQCZdMqG
"He's uh..." Adam blinked, at a loss for words. Conner laughed and patted him on the back.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAUb12MJ43
"Nevermind. Just for a check, how drunk should I let you get?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEIipjdn9c
"I'm already halfway there."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaAh0dheZI
Conner nodded and Xander placed down a shot that could knock out an elephant in front of the immortal which Adam looked like he was going to steal if he wasn't quick enough. Conner seized it quickly and downed it easily, holding it out to Xander to be refilled. He'd need several more to actually feel the effects in any way. As it was, he was glad it had a pleasant melon taste.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqiPCkRp3W
Xander handed Adam a human sized dose of a shot which the mortal downed quickly. Xander grinned, "Conner, look's like someone wants to have a drinking contest."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHAbZ0udnE
Conner grinned, "We shouldn't."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTO0bPdt4d
"Fuck yes, we should!" Adam cheered in a whisper-yell.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZDuOfPGET
Adam blinked hazily for a few seconds, "What was in that thing you gave me? God, whatever it was, it was strong."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7AejzeNNC
Conner frowned at Xander to which the demon slipped back into their native tongue to respond. copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcvgdH5qaa
"A little witch's truth brew. Grade max twelve. He might be... a little loose for the next few hours."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡDm9gQYwFFa
Conner chuckled, "Just water it down for him for now on."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡyji9xBILpw
Xander nodded and held his hands up in a surrendering motion.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQIT7WBdmL
"I don't even know how he found my place. He must be somewhat clear-sighted. He never looks directly at me for the most part so he's been fine. As it is, he usually doesn't make eye contact til he's already drunk. He's a lot of fun, I'm just warning you."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZ8wgZvMFb
Conner nodded and held out his hand, which Xander handed over the whole bottle he had been pouring Conner's shots from.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdugn1S6Nh
The immortal drank from it casually as the three of them made light chatter and Xander began to water down Adam's drinks right as the first ones began to really kick in. Conner's own drinks were nowhere near enough so he had the demon barkeep give him the harder stuff as Adam began to explain his whole life to the two immortals.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡCb8l5fhGsD
"My sister hates my guts- my older one I mean. I think it's been that way since she met me to be honest, I think I just rub her the wrong way. My younger one loves me- I think she idolizes me more than our little brother does and that's saying a lot considering how he used to try to go to school with me when he was a toddler. He was a smart little bugger too, wasn't even afraid of anybody else, would just stick to side streets and follow me to school. Scared the ever loving shit out of my mother, let me tell you. Karen, my younger sister, was pissed that every time she tried to come along Mother would catch her. Do you know how many times I had to cut class to bring his ass back home-too many times, let me tell you."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQCAnTzSFe
"What about you two, you two have any siblings?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DsyTPzLVn
Conner and Xander burst into laughter.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yybTDrakT
Yeah, they had siblings. A ridiculous amount of them and at least hundreds of nieces and nephews- and that's only since they started to be able to procreate outside of the Family. But trying to explain that to mortals was awful. Technically, they didn't have blood the way that mortals did, nor the DNA that gave humans the codes that made them who they were and all that. No, it was simple magic that gave them life- make that raw power, specifically the Ancient's raw power.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMJqn7jXZZ
So while they had an immense number of siblings, none of them were technically related outside of the fact that they came from the same beings. It was weird and trying to explain to mortals was a pain in the ass to say the least so for the most part they kept the information regulated to the actual members of the Family and their mates.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3CFBwvbhr
"What? You two don't have siblings?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlZ7wSLX26
"No," Xander chortled, wiping a tear from his eye, "Let's just say the Family is quite large."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQSBggIAdH
Adam didn't pick up on the capitalization, but no one expected him to.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpLc4nIAz0
"My closest brother's name is Garrett. We look practically identical except for the hair and eye color. Can't go anywhere without somebody mentioning it." Conner stated wistfully.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18l0gRS1PU
"Evangeline is his on and off again girlfriend, so she's practically Family-"technically she was Family too, one of the daughters of Hecate, so in lay-terms, a cousin of sorts "-she's more like an older sister to me though, and she certainly nags like a concerned older sibling too. Garrett's in love with her, but the problem is that he's also in love with this beauty named Clara. Evangeline knows he is too, so she always steps aside when Garrett goes back to her. I mean, it must hurt to do that, but she keeps doing it so I guess she's just a sucker for pain at this point."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GL0h1h0Bu
Conner thought about his eldest sister, Juliet.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbUtnZR5zq
She was the reigning monarch of Darla's side of the Family, and also her adopted father, Dante's as well. She was the eldest child of the Ancients, even out of all of the hundreds, if not thousands of them.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AyrAOjtQ9
"Then there's Juliet," Conner regaled, "She my eldest sister, she puts up with everyone's shit in the Family and somehow makes it all better. I don't know how she does it, but she does it, sure enough. The Family would go to shit without it."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYP9Z7ag7M
Adam nodded and looked at Xander. The demon let out a drawn out sigh.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPXFjkEaqe
"Nope, I got nothing. I haven't even spoken to my family in over a decade."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxO9YpYiSP
Adam narrowed his eyes on the demon, blinking fast like he thought that would make his features easier to make out.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgOhpNpA4w
"How old are you, Xander? I mean, I can never tell. I can barely tell what you look like most the time." Adam muttered and Conner clapped him on the shoulder.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQmkvFFaP6
"Anyway..." Conner drolled, "What made you sign up to join the fight?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqDdzCCxUv
Adam looked at him blankly, "It's what my father would have wanted me to do, if he was still alive. Uncle will always take care of my mother, so I don't have to worry about what I'm leaving behind as long as the war is not brought too close to home."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmLaEbY3L3
"I know you said you signed up for the hell of it, but what was the real reason?" Adam asked and Conner gave a small smile.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8TWspB7Ar
"Me? I've never been one to sit on the sidelines as much as my Family would want. They threatened me the last time I did something like this. 'Conner! We're not allowed to interfere! There's always a price to pay!' and things like that."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZRRdrtQYo
Xander snorted, "You should listen to your siblings. There is always a price. Just because you haven't been the one to pay doesn't mean you inevitably won't."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡllL7wpivs4
Conner frowned and Adam clapped him on the back this time, "I'd probably risk it to, if I were you. My father would always get on my about doing shit like that too when I was younger. Never did learn anything though. So if you're going down, so am I."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1csYFSzNt
Conner smirked, "At least it'll be fun."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01sSSGjmwi
"And there it is, folks!" Xander cried, "We have come across the real reason, he's looking for entertainment! What happened, got tired of whoring around, Conner?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSDv0aVjFn
Conner chuckled, "Nope, besides lots of sexual frustration makes people more willing to get down and dirty."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡnepAHnfzX3
Adam and Xander shook their heads.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3X4vQWcajJ
"I pity the men who get stuck with you, whore."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4B6ABgvUW
Conner looked appalled, "Me, a whore? Never. Not without getting paid first at least."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡSibiSSF8sC
Adam looked aghast.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvAf1qcdAw
"Joking," Conner teased, "Besides, all I require is to be bought a drink first."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3Ay9aaqF5
He cocked his eyebrows at the human and Adam choked on his drink.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡnynyQgrvoU
Conner and Xander burst into laughter.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ApIQr93FK
"Don't worry," Xander chuckled, "Tonight's is on the house."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCN9bXkloZ
That didn't stop Xander from making an obscene gesture with his mouth and right hand for a moment, making the human blush like crazy under the gas lighting.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLxOjn4KTt
Conner chuckled to himself, he liked how the human suddenly got shier around him.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡE144KUwTYb
He knew it was not the time period for it, but hell if he was willing...copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡExOsHZp2lN
Conner downed the rest of the bottle, pleased as he began to feel it hit him, warming his body and creating a pleasant buzz. It took a few minutes for the human to get back to looking him in the eye and Conner blinked when Adam suddenly looked wide-eyed. Conner looked at Xander but the demon wasn't paying attention, wiping down the bar.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LyzASXFDQ
"What?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hSdmC8Sv6
Adam blinked, "You look different. Taller and everything."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aESCmR1oc
Shit.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqYo0zgXeT
Shit. Shit. Shit.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnbGAxjJpP
He'd have to take off his glamour to replace it with a new one.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuZtmBQeDe
He glanced at himself in the mirror behind the bar. His skin had lost the red tint, back to the color of milk while his hair was darkening and becoming redder by the moment. His eyes were flickering from a dark green to baby blue and he knew it was only a matter of minutes before it all evaporated away.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsEpQFY7Cd
He looked at Xander and the demon looked up, frowning at him.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rBc7cJqV9
Conner turned to Adam, "Do me a favor?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKDfe0Q4et
Adam swallowed and nodded, still scanning him, seemingly fascinated by his changing features and coloring.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFWY5ND3Uf
"Wh-what's happening?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVGS7O4RfZ
Conner swallowed, "How drunk are you, right now?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vJEKYFB2T
"Oh, I'd say I'm quickly sobering."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mz1kEOXHI
He looked like it, too.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZDTRLHVCX
"Okay, Adam. I need you to uh, not freak out. Can you do that?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDsFidDXOG
"Conner, no." Xander interceded.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡRT2qUm4IjM
Conner glanced at him, "He's cool. I'll take him to Sara's tomorrow and we'll sort everything out. Wipe him if we have to, but for right now....I'm willing to take a leap of faith."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwL5pDQ7zt
Xander glared at him, "If you have to, kill him. Exposure is not a good thing in this current time period."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5u6y9pLMnA
Conner nodded.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡteuwFoSJ7c
He turned back to Adam, "Okay, I need you to close your eyes. Just staring at me while it happens is going to be hell on your eyes and your mind. I'll tell you when to open them."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzIhE8Vvgu
Adam's breathing was harsh and he was on the verge of a full blown panic attack. He closed his eyes and tried to calm himself down, but Conner could tell it wasn't really working.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlY5U7vFUS
He made short work of dropping the glamour, his head beginning to pulse in mild pain. His teeth clenched and he let out a small grunt of discomfort as his body transformed back into its true form.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡgo7KUM9Mvg
He was taller, closer to seven feet than he was to six. He blinked sharply as his eyes flickered back to their true shade, burning ever-so-slightly.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1QIjuQe07
It was kind of relieving. He swore that he'd stick to the lesser level glamour, at least for the time being. He had his papers from the office so he knew roughly what he had looked like. Luckily, his actual facial features had only shifted minimally.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYtH4nPz3J
He blew out a breath, "Okay, open your eyes."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUyUsYDlPk
Adam opened them slowly, scanning him up from the floor.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡrj8y32kcPQ
He looked wide eyed at him, "Oh my god."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOSjwcOnrO
"You vampires, look what you get yourselves into." Xander shook his head and Adam looked to him.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaNYRRmGqp
"Are you- are you one too?" He stuttered and Xander snorted.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSIyrMBMYr
"No, I'm no vamp. But the less you know the better."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsfvLMHAa8
Adam looked back at Conner, looking up to meet his eyes, "Oh, wow."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFibEa20Rt
Conner grinned nervously, swaying from side to side as his strength began to kick back into full gear. He began to tap the bar repetitively, his superior speed already making it uncomfortable for him to stay in one place for too long.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhm9QNVrzU
Adam kept blinking at him, as if he didn't believe his eyes.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡScn8H8VpJ6
Conner wouldn't if he were him.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7MRjr1lsT
It was all kind of unbelievable, but he had at least been born into it. It was probably stretching Adam's mind out to say the least.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSab11YXty
"Uh... okay, I'm not freaking out. But uh, wow."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmKfvsoqS7
Conner forced himself to nod slowly as his body grew back into his natural restlessness.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqejixKkTc
He'd forgotten how annoying it was.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJ5oU6pT4S
Adam blinked, his panic attack dying down.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWfccKFAbx
"So you're uh..."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIYV2htMBn
"A vampire, yes."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡZO64c0bBUf
"This is...uh..."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡumcJzoufYF
"Unbelievable?" Conner supplied and Adam nodded.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGnLCp25cE
Xander handed the mortal a bottle of what looked like whiskey, thankfully mortal dosaged. Adam gripped the bottle tight and took a swig. He looked like he was trying to think of something to say but every time he seemed to be back to surprised and so tried to compensate by guzzling down the bottle.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbszfFArgu
"So you... drink blood?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLQTvqiZFh
Conner laughed, "I'm old enough that I can go a while without drinking if I want. At this point it's more of a habit of pleasure than actual need. I personally eat human food and drink. Not all of my kind do, but most of us find that human food stuffs taste good too."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsX2ezshFF
Adam nodded and looked away until Conner's constant shifting drew his attention.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7QnH62hyj
"What are you doing?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡLf5C8A2qAI
Conner let out a bleat of anxious laughter, "I am... readjusting to my true form. I can run... um, really fast. I'm the fastest of all of us, it's kinda my thing."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfaFioeKFT
Adam nodded and took another swig.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡqB1gYIn1ZV
"So you're not going to eat me?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLbqnj0qKB
"No, not unless you want me to."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sQj78ImTo
"Want you to? When has anyone ever wanted to be eaten?" Adam was aghast and looked back and forth between Xander and Conner, the former having gone back to the obscene gesturing to explain.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjZhAY0YZZ
Conner and Adam blushed.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkL5L9oLA9
"Um, I'm not-" Adam began, "But it's okay if you are, I mean."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJBd3JmM6f
Xander smirked at Conner from the sidelines while Adam swallowed and tried to do something or another, certain human behaviors were really beyond Conner's understanding.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡamzaD99D79
But he figured the human was trying to put a word to his sexuality, or something like that.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1uo6fxv17
Most immortals didn't see the point with that. You love who you love, you fuck who you fuck and all that jazz- why humans always wanted to put a word to something like that he had no clue.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoRgCU0YG6
Conner explained his logic to the human and Adam nodded and downed the rest of the bottle in return.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRsN26XbJ4
"That's a nice way of thinking. My grandparents were really religious, I think they would roll in their graves if I were gay though."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡln6PLd5jJ6
"If they loved you it wouldn't matter. Family ain't your true family if they don't accept you for who you are. Gay, hetero, etc..." Conner stated and Xander handed the immortal a bottle of bloodwine from the small fridge under the bar.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡroviF7cG6T
This particular bottle was made from a... young woman, somewhere around twenty when it was bottled. The wine part was older, around a century.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkKf8Mm5Y6
Adam nodded, "Just wondering, but what do other races think of humans?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡajth9fveze
Xander laughed, "Let's just say we find mortals amusing. Outside of that it varies upon the individual."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0CQjhXwX4
Adam's brows furrowed.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKoa0xXmDV
Conner clapped him on the back lightly, careful to not be to rough, "Personally, I think humans are fun. Interesting to look at and talk to. Your lives are so much simpler, yet so much more fulfilling than most of the immortals I've met. There so brief, and you all put so much meaning into them. You create purpose for yourselves and I envy that. Immortals simply look for ways to amuse themselves. We have nothing really driving us forward. Humans have the desire to better themselves- witches do too, but even they feel apathy keenly like one of us does occasionally. Humans, while they feel it sometimes, somehow manage to push through and do something with the short times they are given to live."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNfW5pbAEL
Adam looked surprised at his words, "You sound like you envy us."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZLrP5JNBG
Xander sighed, "Immortals are not the best to look to when it comes to finding meaning in life. Perhaps part of that comes from finding all meaning simple, maybe not easy to explain, but easy to comprehend."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1rgcsN9Oq
Conner leaned back on the bar stool, "And don't you all have a concept of soul mates? Most immortals don't. Some types do, but most of us choose our mates if we have any at all. Most of the time it sets us up for inevitable pain. Family members who are full immortal outlast everyone they know who isn't up to par vitality wise."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5heldkKpUo
Adam quirked a brow, "So neither of you have soulmarks? That sounds awful."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJnWad1U0D
Conner shook his head with a teasing grin, but his tone was melancholy.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSF28RuW0j
"You make the best of it." He looked back at Adam, "So what are your soulmarks? How does that all work?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6BCrOWceR
Adam shrugged, "Hell if I know. Mine isn't even a word- it's a symbol of some sort. Got weird looks as a kid because of it."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoBZkMcmGd
Conner smirked, "I'll show you my fangs if you show it to me."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0h5FjewOax
Adam grinned back in response, "What are they? Retractable?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yDJa5y7iM
Conner took a sip of his drink, "You'll just have to wait."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTazSvl5S2
Adam slid off the stool and promptly fell on his ass on the wooden plank floors.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSjoxDD4sO
"Damn," He muttered, "Guess I drank more than I should've."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAmfjxlRED
Conner bent down and lifted him off the floor like one would do a glass doll.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDxOdqkzwc
Adam narrowed his eyes on the immortal, "That didn't feel patronizing. No, not at all."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡBP5UeCxRHZ
Conner grinned, "Chin up, buttercup. I'll help you home."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjA2zTzULd
He winked just to make Adam blush again and choked on his drink, his lips stained a bloody red.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡypQ6e3wyD3
He licked his lips and waited for Adam to make the next move, but the mortal was slow on the uptake appearing fascinated by his small display. Conner clicked his tongue to knock him out of it.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeSQ86tGYa
"I know I'm a knockout and all, but..."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEtfG29gXU
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Adam unbuttoned his shirt and took off the button up to reveal a well-built upper body and a white wifebeater undershirt. Conner could faintly spot a gold symbol emblazoned into his chest, about an inch above his heart. He released his bottle back onto the bar and needled the undershirt down enough to decipher it.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwkkCyo971
Xander's breath caught.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTf5Kobd4a
"Is that?" The demon began and Conner nodded.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKPRZvU9MR
"It's how we originally wrote our names, quite a while before your own creation, Xander." The vampire remarked, his eyes slightly confused to the viewer while unrest stirred within his mind.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fooA0XZa5
He knew that name, because it was most certainly his name. It was the sigil that he had once given his mortal lovers to invoke him with in his earlier years.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mYhrIFDWJ
"So..." The mortal drawled, "Do you know whose name this is then?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkuDct97DV
"Uh... how about those fangs now, huh?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHbn6Ln3Lx
The human rolled his eyes with enough attitude to cut stone.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MU83mQJZN
"Sure, why not?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡsO8XrkqAr3
Conner grinned and revealed his canines to the human, "Watch carefully."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqLHNRtbVe
Adam nodded and suddenly the teeth appeared to sharpen into two slightly longer canines that he knew were deadly just by looking at them.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ40Ec403N0
"That's.... Wow."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgOYdgjERL
Conner chuckled, trying to push off his own oncoming anxiety attack. Adam failed to notice the vampire's discomfort but Xander did not.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡInbt4Zlxbg
"You know who his soulmarks belong to?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUkMyxQzAD
Conner sighed, "Yes."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrUoq7EJLv
Xander let out a growl, "Well are you going to keep us waiting?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuTGXXGivR
His switch to english sounded almost as guttural as their native tongue but the mortal beside them noticed all the same- like Xander had well wanted him to.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡygMT3lqTU1
Adam looked between the two of them and rolled his eyes and tried to stand up, nearly falling on his ass yet again.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡxussSSzxCl
Conner narrowed his eyes on Xander, "Mine, are you happy demon?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27PVONTv5o
Xander looked taken aback and glanced at the stumbling human whose grip was digging into his precious antique bar. His eyes narrowed at the infringement but relaxed again when the words resounded through his mind.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEF9xIuYCp
"What are you going to do?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9TrBLkbjX
"What do you think? I'm getting him home and then I'll... I'll.... Hell, I don't know. I'll do something. He isn't even attracted to men!"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡxm4miT9bof
Adam was looking in between the two immortals, sighing when he went on ignored.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡALTfUrXopz
Xander snorted, "Did you see the way he was checking you out, let me assure you, he most certainly is attracted to men. Or at the very least you."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpJHRltcwM
The comment was made along with a muttering under his breath of vampires and their irritating looks.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ938eqq7ACv
Well, someone was jealous.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡPchJrbaoAA
Adam tried to step away from the bar but stumbled back and Conner instinctively steadied the human lightly (okay, maybe a bit too hard).copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡYo0H5R3y3A
"Damn, there's that grip again."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcDtq4UyEw
Conner blushed, "Sorry."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uIld9wny6
Adam frowned, "We've already been through this."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxvYfAPi9T
Conner nodded and dropped a few of the Blackslate coins on the bar, which Xander quickly seized up with a flourish, calling out to the vampire as he escorted the human out of the pub, which was most certainly in a hole in the wall.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡSu6wYxAS5f
"Figure your shit out, Conner! Before it bites you in the-"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9J7vWh1kQ
The door to the pub slammed shut and they walked into the street without looking back.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8inDhCe7Vn
The roads were deserted, time having passed quicker than either of them could have guessed. Conner expected it- immortal hubs always had a way with fucking with time.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NR6kPDVIJ
Adam was leaning on him for support, but it was awkward given the severe height difference. Conner sighed and they hobbled down the streets, Adam telling him the directions to the flat where he lived alone, having moved out of his family home fairly recently.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6SUenQvpb
He pointed out certain landmarks along the way, talking about his own childhood as he went. Conner listened quietly, restless as hell. All he wanted was a good run, but he would not be getting that anytime soon. Well, at least not soon enough anyway.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyuJbLmpSh
He had a little too much energy to burn, at this point he could probably circumvent this earth a couple times before it fully burned off. He sighed once more.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡNT5FZpuDkd
"Am I boring you?" Adam asked and Conner sent him a wry grin.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvkfpyDg43
"Nope. Just restless. I've never really been able to stick to a human pace when it comes to walking in my true body. Though I'm not one for walking in general."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqBW9NIwdA
Adam laughed, "What? Do you run everywhere you go?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0tTFtja7D
Conner nodded, "Kinda have to. Have to burn off the energy somehow. It's why I was wearing that glamour. It's one of the only ways I can actually relax."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡnt9IJzgnQk
Adam stared at him for a moment, "So you can't relax in your true form? That must suck."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiK2eUPWq3
Conner shrugged, "Trade-offs. I've been told that the excess energy makes me fun in bed."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡxe317JuqUB
He muttered the rest musingly, "Though it's a little difficult with my mortal lovers. When I was young, I managed to hurt one of them accidently. She forgave me, but uh... it made an impact on me."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4i5d0PNhcD
Adam nodded, "So why don't I give you my address and you speed us over?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDVmFahv7H
Conner's eyes went wide with excitement, "That sounds fun. I'll still be going pretty slow, but it would be better than this at least. You might even have a little fun too."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEVCG2mbtg
Adam rolled his eyes, "I bet."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxzSLAHyRU
Conner moved in front of him and picked him up by his legs and slung him onto his back, Adam's hands falling to wrap around his neck.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtx7Pdh6Ip
"This is uh... wow you're tall. How tall are you? What? Seven feet?copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡOg4JTKMfVg
Conner laughed, "I'm actually average sized for the Family. Juliet is my height and she wears heels too. She scares the hell out of mortals when she comes out without a glamour. To be honest, I think she does it to get a kick out of it. She's a little sadistic, but hey, we all have our vices."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIN5AzFi8w
"Close your eyes." Conner ordered and Adam obeyed.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡckZKrPXJWF
Conner wrapped his hands around the man's legs to keep them secure and then took off. He arrived within a few seconds at the flat building, having got lost briefly without Adam's continuing instructions.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KWduPYh4T
"Okay, open your eyes."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAClGcVlv3
Adam opened them and Conner carefully dropped the mortal to his feet, steadying him when he stumbled. Pure shock was apparent in his face.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡSInSsPIpzE
"Damn, you are fast." He blinked, "Didn't you say you would go slower?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ip1VUQTbV
Conner rubbed the back of his neck, "I uh, did."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJwp4cCZy8
Adam turned his wide eyes on the vampire, "How fast are you exactly?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qQqjig1IP
Conner shrugged, "I've circumvented worlds a few times to take the edge off. I can usually do that within ten minutes."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNy6Pu0Goc
Adam merely blinked for a few stunned moments.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbV8BZkdZS
"Aren't you going in? You'll probably need to sleep off your drinks."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2jctCvKDd
Adam nodded, "You want to come up? I probably won't go to sleep in a while. I think you managed to wake me up pretty well."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡAk18qQCqx0
Conner shrugged, "Sure. Sara's probably asleep now anyway."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9cyhNxB1x
He followed the human up the steps of the building then up two floors to the third floor door where his flat took up house. Adam unlocked it and entered, tossing his recruitment papers and new uniform on the dining table.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡunANA4q5O4
It was a large open space cordoned off by bookcases into separate rooms. The floors were dark hardwoods that matched the beams that held the ceiling in place, covered in some places by a few rugs. There was a small kitchen next to the small dining area for four people, leading into a cozy looking living area, small but nice with a small table with an open book on top, its pages bookmarked with dog eared folds. A small radio was on the third shelf of the bookcase in front of the couch, which Adam turned on as he passed the room absently.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡiookwOa9fI
A soothing jazz ballad rocked through the air easily.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSRmq8aYJc
Adam had thrown his button up on the wooden chair in the bedroom area, tossing the things in his wallet on the small bedside table before he came back out and waved Conner further into the flat.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡveA61aasfY
"So... what do you do to occupy time?" Conner asked and Adam shrugged.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡwymUSTJ32Y
"I usually read or sketch a bit after work. What do you do?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcQCzgKKeu
Conner shrugged in return, "Run, read, listen to music, go out and get lucky if I want. I get bored easily so I look for things to occupy my eternal existence with, its why I was signed up to fight. Or really how, because I uh, just stumbled into the recruitment office looking for something to do."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKJxQLH0dX
Adam gave him a dry look, "That seems reasonable."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJvlDoemrh
Conner brightened, "I knew you'd understand."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡldtbP3sANH
Conner dropped his smile, "Do you have any food?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JrOhizYiN
His stomach growled to punctuate his hunger and Adam laughed.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhwsDaQRwi
"Check the cabinet."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SvC4lFwVt
Conner zoomed over to the cabinet and began his inspection which was brief to say the least. He pulled back with a pout.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1dFQuXqtg
He held out a small box, "Instant pudding? Is that all you eat because there is an inexcusable amount of it."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpyKRbUH3r
Adam laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his neck.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcjuOnQuUM
"Well..." Conner trailed, "I'm going to go look for a rapist to snack on because let's be honest, I don't have the patience right now to find something that's open, let alone cook something myself. And unless you're volunteering..."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8NbNEFL48
Adam shook his head, "I'm not."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ixB2oMW6P
Conner grinned, "Are you sure? I've been told my bite is absolutely orgasmic."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡn62GBQ4rlY
Adam blushed and Conner's grin deepened.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡdj60uUEaFJ
Adam shook his head and Conner flitted away, accidently slamming the door a little too loudly. Adam for his part propelled himself onto the sofa and picked up the book to read while he waited for the vampire's return.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI1Qj4f60l
Conner was a little annoyed.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡVosY43O9ua
The rapist he had managed to track down mid-crime was screaming like a banshee. What does Garrett do to put a stop to this shit?copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HudIZ8n9N
Oh yeah.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sw8jPcyWd
Conner snapped the bulky man's neck and flitted away a few miles into another deserted alley to feed.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSBmQGpFPT
Frankly, he was not in the mood to deal with the mess he made when he ripped into the dead man's throat, but he would certainly have to. He had forgotten how being out of practice could make things messy. Though to be honest, he only kept it clean when he wanted his prey to survive.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXAkbjjjGt
The man's blood tasted like watered down whiskey- probably a regular drunk then.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MVDVet8Np
The woman he had left behind in the alley was still there when he got back, tears streaming down her face and he wondered why no one had come out to help her. He looked at his surroundings and realization hit him.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHhX47DtMt
Shit like this probably happened often in this neighborhood.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCrYWChgVX
Conner had tossed the rapist's body in a dumpster and lit it on fire in the alley where he had fed and he could still hear it in the distance even though humans would most certainly not hear it.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2KEGFTaNG
The woman screamed when she saw him.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9oR7sZKVL
"What? Do I have something on my face?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡeioFhlhyBd
He ran a hand over his face and quickly realized how he might have turned the woman hysterical. Blood was drying on his chin and jaw.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkgfZWUT6I
He wiped it with his sleeve.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGSYxZqwKm
"Hey, um Miss... Uh, that man's gone." His words didn't calm her and so he settled for knocking her out with a soft pinch. He found her identification and made short work of delivering her back to her doorstep, discomfort ricocheting through him in waves.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZFGEW2WuD
He never did figure out how to deal with people in hysterics.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZYqfXnaQt
Humans were strange and he could never figure out what caused that shit or what could make them come down from it all.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqaLoHKPev
The woman would probably remember it all- but humans were quick to deny anything out of the ordinary and she'd be assumed crazed if she talked about him.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwuQd9Mf5g
Ten minutes later found him back in the doorway to Adam's flat, opening the doorway shyly, before sliding the rest of the way in.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡTggRGvP3FF
Adam didn't even look up from his book as he entered, "You good now?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡxy6Hjvp4kD
Conner bent over the kitchen sink and washed his face of the blood, scrubbing till his skin was an irritated pink that quickly faded back to its natural shade. He pulled off his bloody shirt and used it to pat dry his face, which felt scruffy from a bit of a beard coming in.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡzva3moc8Ei
He should shave, but did he want to? Nope.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxyFpfbejQ
He walked back over to Adam, standing over the human without a sound for a minute until Adam looked up and jumped a bit in surprise.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQp0yIwXMQ
The human blushed as he scanned him and Conner grinned, "I-"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmmLpIaBRO
"Do you need a shirt?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgmsWLI701
Conner rolled his eyes, "Yes bu-"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡYURnVq6snT
Adam rolled off the couch and onto his feet and flitted away into the bedroom area to a set of drawers and tossed the immortal a stretchy wifebeater.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYfEKFnUge
The vampire sighed, rolled his eyes again, but put it on nonetheless.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbu6DrSmzS
Adam came out just as Conner was attempting to stretch it past his belly button (unsuccessfully.). Adam looked him over and burst into laughter at the annoyed look on the vampire's face.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxNfVJF2b3
Conner groaned and pulled it off, "I'll just scrub my shirt in the sink, then. At least it'll fit even if it's wet. And blood red. But whatever. Sara can probably summon me up some clothing tomorrow."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡVu2b8MQwH7
Adam wiped a tear from his eye, "Sorry, I shouldn't have laughed."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJJ5GCOA4V
Conner waved him off, "Feel free to laugh your ass off. I'm fairly entertaining."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrifxWGpif
Adam rolled his eyes and went back to reading while Conner scrubbed at his shirt in the sink with soap. He was grateful that it was a witch-made textile so it wouldn't rip if he was too harsh in his scrubbing.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGN6VIPAL1
After twenty minutes Conner let out a cry of victory and Adam looked up to see the vampire glowing with his victory and wearing a very much see-through white t-shirt stained slightly pink around the collar.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHvGSEsIaa
"How does that even still manage to fit you after you uh- well you know."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUB8a95Qyo
Conner grinned, "Witch-textiles, they shift to fit the wearer. They can even shift with shapeshifters. Pretty convenient if you ask me."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6R4TXZCNAn
The radio fritzed a bit and a new song came on- this time a classical string ballad.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡOe4jVXXnG8
Conner plopped himself on the floor in front of the couch, his long legs crossed over one another at the knee as he leaned back on his elbows. Adam rolled his eyes.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡyw39FdjK3S
"Pick a book or something, don't just stare."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99Jd3HdFuO
"But you're so nice to stare at!" Conner whined and Adam blushed.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3i37CY4AmK
Conner smirked and placed his right hand over his forehead and did his best impression of Rose from Titanic, "Paint me like one of your french girls!"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUhM4WZnH3
Adam quirked a brow at him silently and Conner groaned.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQdZ4gGhWb
"Fine. Sketch me like one of your french girls!"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Zu9667bHu
Adam quirked his brow again, this time in confusion.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqodctacRS
"Is that a reference?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6Jt6NJM5G
"Is that a reference? Only to an overplayed three-hour long cinematic tragedy!" Conner cried and then backed up suddenly, "Oh yeah, that doesn't come out till what? The nineties? Hell if I know. My bad. Sorry."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbFslLztXg
Adam smiled, almost smirkingly as he wrapped his arm to cushion his head as he laid out on the couch. Conner groaned and Adam sighed.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTHl7UPh6G
"Why don't you tell me about your lovers. I mean, you talked about one of them a while ago."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mMSQTGAGM
Conner leaned back and looked up at the ceiling.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEYV6jHFME
"I guess, I mean most of them are either immortal or long since dead. Well, some of them have gone to ground." He sighed, "Do you want to hear about the men or the women?"copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJyD5FxUWE
"Either."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡA60nZRgFrW
Conner blew out a breath, "Well, there was Mary and her twin brother Michael. Both of them were sleeping with me just at different times without the other one noticing. That was a weird time."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHAqCHJjmw
He laughed, "They came from a witch bloodline and it was odd because Michael could use his abilities as well as his sister. It's odd because male witch heirs tend to be just carriers for the power of their bloodline."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡYigwVlbtg8
Conner looked up at the ceiling and fell flat on his back with his hands cushioning his head for support.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Re8eeZvTq
"Mary was beautiful in a approachable way. Her brother was stone cold with outsiders but took to liking me fairly quickly. I've always wondered why, but it's not like he could answer me now- he was hung during a witch trial with Mary. I had luckily managed to move their family, and their line is still going strong now I believe. Mary's granddaughter actually managed to make it to her transition and beyond that- she managed to survive."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡsm73MKKw47
He briefly looked at Adam, "Half of us don't survive our transitions. And that's true for almost all of the Family except for witches, who for the most part never manage to even reach their transition."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22pjzlFKOV
"I had a daughter." He stated, a wave of depression sweeping over him as he continued to speak, "She was everything to me- and that was quite rare for us immortals. Most of us raise our children as a community and not a single family unit. But her mother, a witch, convinced me to and, well, it was probably the best thing I've ever done."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVN841m3xg
Adam had released his book to look over at the immortal, silent as he allowed the vampire to continue.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZCB3omNVq
Conner smiled softly, "Her name was Melody. She was beautiful and had her mother's eyes- a pretty soft lavender shade that sparkled when she was excited. She could make anyone happy just by smiling at them. She was so young, so fucking nice- she should've made it through it. She had been healthy- she had never had trouble when it came to her body, her health, or hell, any of the training we had all been put through when we were raised."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYtkh2FWNu
His smiled turned bitter, "She should have made it through. She should have made it through."copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGpFOuHbxf
His repetition seemed to make his words sound even more disbelieving, even more pained as Adam listened to him.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1f3DisZ6o
Conner went silent for a moment, dropping the bitter grin for a quiet disbelief that still struck him thousands of years after the fact.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0mTlDV0AI
He turned to look over at the human who answered his stare with a look of sympathy.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡutpU9eoRpW
But what could he know of the pain of losing a child. He might have lost his father from what he told Conner today- but that was not the same thing.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QYlUBEnAK
They say the worst thing a parent can go through is the death of a child before their own inevitable death.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0L7U6LP6m
Death would not return him to his daughter.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBQXwZbVRA
Immortality was a curse- one he was subject to till the end of existence.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXrPjmrXJ2
As he looked at the mortal laid out on the couch he appeared to almost become near decisive. But his mind was not certain- as much as he wanted it to becopyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu3tCXznMG
The mortal was mated to him and Conner was certain that if he wasn't careful he'd grow too attached to this mortal for his own good. He was not a sucker for pain like Evangeline was- but knowing himself, he could see himself slipping into this relationship, sinking deeper and deeper till he would certainly not be able to climb out of that hole.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlhAiNAuJr
It hadn't ever happened that badly before, but Conner could feel that this time would be different.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ApxqJTRHC
He was not looking forward to the end that awaited him when the mortal reached his inevitable own.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡTp7WSJTs7G
Conner sighed.copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8R1qske2PX
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